Strand treatment

ABSTRACT

Textile strand compressively crimped, as by stuffer crimping, is withdrawn longitudinally from a compact accumulation thereof in a laterally confining region through a countercurrent flow of gaseous fluid.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1969 Stanley..........

[72] Inventor Robert K.Sllnley 620 Meadowvale Lane, Media, Pa. 19063 819.824

' 3,435,497 28/16 3,440,701 411969 Irwinetal.................r... 28/7211 21 AppLNo. 22 Filed Apr. 28,1969 [45] Patented July 20,1971

Primary Examiner- Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney-McClure & Millman [54] STRAND TREATMENT 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Fi s.

ABSTRACT: Textile strand compressively crimped, as by stufi'er crimping, is withdrawn longitudinally from a compact accumulation thereof in a laterally confining region through a countercurrent flow of gaseous fluid.

M m k .mF UN 55 ll STRAND'TREATMENT Reference is made to the Irwin'et al. copending patent application for Strand Treatment, Ser. No. 626,033 filed Mar. 27, 1967 and scheduled to issue as Pat. now US. Pat. No. 3,440,701 granted Apr. 29, 1969 the same discloses countercurrent strand treatment.

One of the standard methods of crimping, .textile'strands with the object of decreasing their rectilinearity or increasing their bulk involves compressing. thestrand into a. compact mass from which it is subsequently withdrawn and eventually wound up or otherwise treated. Thismethod is often accom-v plished in continuous mannerby a'technique known as stuffer crimping" wherein a textile strand is stuffed into a laterally confining region from whichit is withdrawn longitudinally notwithstanding temporary accumulation of strandin a compact mass therein. Becausetaof the contiguity and nonrectilinearity of the strand inthe compact crimped mass,- slubs may appear when strand, especially multifilament, is withdrawn therefrom. Numerous mechanical devices have been used for the purpose of eliminating slubs or similar entanglements from such crimped strands,but their operation-is likely to be either too mild ortoosevere, with consequent lack of effect or, at the other extreme, knotting orbreaking of the strandstreated thereby.

A primary object of this present invention is improvement in slub removal from crimped textilestrands.

Another object is gaseous fluid aftertreatment of compressively crimped strands.

A further object is concurrent accomplishment of the foregoing objects. Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods fot=:attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying diagrams.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram; partly inblock form, of a system for use in practicing thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, partly sectioned away, of an apparatus component of the system-of FIG. 1, shown treating strand therein;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus component of. FIG. 2, with strandtherein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan of the same-apparatus component, without strand therein, taken at lV-IV on FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectionalelevation. of a detail of the same apparatus component, with strand therein. i

In general, the various objects-of the present invention are accomplished in compressive crimping treatmentof textile strands wherein a textile strand is accumulated temporarily in a compact mass, the steps of withdrawing crimped strand longitudinally therefrom and passing gaseous fluid along the strand in a direction counter to the direction of withdrawal.

In FIG. 1, strand is shownas being withdrawn from package ll, through the nip of rolls 13, 13' over preheater l4,-

through the nip of rolls 15, l5','and pastinfeedguide means 16, shown in block form, which may aid totraverse the strand parallel to the axis of stuffer rolls I7, 17. The stufier rolls grip the strand and feed it into the entrance of stuffing chamber 18 juxtaposed' thereto, from'which crimped strand (denotedas I0) is withdrawn and wound. up by grooved self-traversing drive roll 19 into package 20. Th'cstuffing chamber has collar 21 the'reabout intermediate its ends: and pipe 210 joined thereto. I

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show stuffing chamber 18 as a component of otherwise conventional stuffer-crimping apparatus in front 1 on'which is drive pulley 33. Belt 34 interconnects drive pulley 33 and driven pulley 29 to transmit rotational force tothe gears, shafts, and feed rolls themselves. The direction of rotation is such as to feed or stuff the strand by and between the counterrotating feed rolls into the chamber entrance. Strandtraversing means 16 through which the strand passes immediately ahead or upstream of the feed rolls moves the cumulation therein and strand 10 being withdrawn therefrom through the chamber exits, as indicated by an arrow. Tube 214 joins-collar 21 above the level of the sectioning and has exhaust pump 38 therein, which withdraws air (or other gaseous fluid) from collar 21, shown further in the followingview.

FIG. 5 shows collar 21 and the portion of stufflngchamber l8 surrounded thereby as well as the attached part of pipe 21a, on an enlarged scale andsectioned to reveal the interior, with'strand l0' therein. The collar is seen to be hollow, and the interior thereof communicates with the interior of the portion of the chamber surrounded thereby by means of a multiplicity of apertures 39 through-this chamber wall. The arrows designate flow of gaseous fluid, which in the upper part of chamber l8'is counter to the direction of withdrawal of strand l0 (see also FIG. 2) and at the level of collar 21 turns radially outward into the collar, from which it is exhausted through pipe 210. The upper portion of the relatively compact strand accumulation from which crimped strand is being withdrawn longitudinally upward is just visible at the lower edge of the view.

Although no slubs are shown in the visible portion of strand 10' it will be understood that as a slub occurs and is withdrawn to the. level of the radially outward flow of air in the portion of v stuffingchamber 18 surrounded by collar 21 the slub tends to withdrawn counter to the downward flow of gaseous fluid in the upper portion of the chamber. While only one exhaust pipe 210' is shown, for the sake of simplicity, it will be apparent that the outflow of gaseous fluid from the chamber into collar 21 may be rendered more even by addition of additional exhaust pipesspaced evenly about the perimeter of the collar or by using smaller apertures 39 in the portions of the chamber wall coaxial with an exhaust pipe than at off-axial locations, Notwithstanding attempts at equalizing such flow, the strand being withdrawn is likely to travel along and in contact with the interior wall over at least parts of the path of the chamber exit, which is not entirely undesirable, as the increased friction of wall contact tends to remove any slubs not removed by the radial flow and/or the countercurrent flow of gaseous fluid.

A recommended form of stuffer crimper, in which crimping compression of the strand is assured by reason of lateral confinement thereof, is described in my US. Pat. No. 3,386,142. If desired, back pressure means can be employed between the entrance to the stuffing chamber and the level at which crimped strand is withdrawn from the compact accumulation thereof, preferably as in US. Pat. No. 3,027,619. The latter type' of stuffer crimper may require infeed-windup synchronization to ensure that the relatively compact mass of crimped strand'does not reach the level of the collar.

The gaseous fluid itself also usefully treats the crimped strand to'alter its temperature or moisture content or both. For example, if essentially all of the crimp imparted to the strandis to be retained, the gaseous fluid may advantageously be cooler'than the strand. Alternatively, if some reduction in degree of crimp is acceptable, perhaps in the interest of enhanced crimp stability, the treating fluid may be made hotter than the strand, which itself may be at higher than normal room temperature by reason-of preheating and/or heat engendered in the strand by crimping or by optional predrawing. When higher fluid temperature is desired, the fluid may comprise steam, whereas lower fluid temperatures are readily attained by air alone as the fluid. Moreover, steam can be employed to add moisture to the strand, whether at higher or lower temperature, or air of high humidity may be used to that end, especially where the strand temperature is relatively low and heating is not desired. If a steam preheating or other moisture-contributing step has been employed prior to crimping, dry air or other gaseous fluid may be most helpful in drying the crimped strand by countercurrent flow according to this invention. Relatively inert gaseous fluid, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide may replace air, if desired, as where the strand may be carrying a finish or dye susceptible to oxidative degradation at elevated temperature prevailing in the stuffing chamber or in the treating gaseous fluid.

Although the illustration shows the countercurrent flow as being confined essentially to stuffing chamber 18, more specifically the portion thereof from the strand exit (which is at the top in the indicated crimper orientation) to the level of collar 21, it will be apparent that unless a similar collar or equivalent means, such as perforation of the chamber wall, is used to inject the fluid near the top of the chamber (which is especially useful to prevent undesired lateral disturbance at the strand exit or where an inert gas or other fluid than air is used) the flow actually originates in the atmosphere beyond the chamber end. If desired, all the countercurrent treating flow could be limited to a part of the strand path outside the chamber by moving the exhaust collar to the chamber end and by providing suitable flow-inducing means, such as fans, nonconfining channels, or vanes therebeyond in the strand path. The countercurrent flow may be divided more evenly outside and inside the chamber by intermediate placement of the collar together with one or more of the mentioned external flow devices. However, for most purposes it is satisfactory to utilize a terminal portion of the chamber to contain the countercurrent flow, whereupon it may be considered to be localized essentially in the chamber notwithstanding use of the atmosphere surrounding the chamber end as the source thereof.

Also, if desired, rolls [5, may be overdriven relative to rolls l3, 13' so that the increase in surface speed, with essentially nonslipping contact between strand and rolls, effects a drawing of the strand to increased length. An intermediate pin or other snubbing surface may be provided as is conventional, to localize the drawing. Means for heating (or cooling) the strand in the chamber or after withdrawal from the chamber are also well known and may be employed if desired.

A particular embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, and various modifications, therein or useful in conjunction therewith have been described. Other modifications, such as by addition, combination, or subdivision of parts or steps, may be made while retaining all or some of the benefits and advantages of this invention. The illustration and description are by way of example only, and the invention itselfis defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. ln compressive crimping treatment of textile strands wherein a textile strand is accumulated temporarily in a compact mass, the improvement comprising removing slubs therefrom by the steps of withdrawing crimped strand longitudinally from the compact mass and passing gaseous fluid along and in contact with the strand in a direction counter to the direction of withdrawal with sufficient force to remove slubs therefrom and exhausting the fluid at an intermediate location so as to preclude application of force thereby to the compact strand mass other than as imposed by atmospheric pressure.

2. Strand treatment according to claim 1, wherein the countercurrent flow of fluid terminates before reaching the compact strand accumulation.

3. Strand treatment according to claim 2, wherein the fluid flows radially outward away from the strand at the end of its path along the strand.

4. Strand treatment according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow also forces the strand being withdrawn into sliding contact with a solid surface, thereby further aiding in slub removal.

5. Aftertreatment for textile strand stuffer-crtmped in a laterally confining region having an entrance and an exit for the strand, comprising applying a countercurrent flow of gaseous fluid to the strand while in the region and being withdrawn longitudinally from a compact accumulation of strand in the region, including providing such fluid to the chamber at a locus remote from the strand accumulation and in the vicinity of the strand exit from the chamber, and exhausting such fluid from the chamber at a locus nearer to the strand accumulation.

6. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid flow extends along part of the interior of the laterally confining region.

7. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 6, wherein the fluid flow extends along portions of the strand path inside and outside the laterally confining region.

8. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 7, wherein the fluid flow enters the exit of the laterally confining region through which the strand is withdrawn.

9. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 6, wherein the fluid flow is limited to an interior portion of the laterally confining region spaced from the exit thereof through which the strand is withdrawn.

10. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is drier than the strand.

11. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is moister than the strand.

12. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises steam.

13. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is cooler than the strand.

14. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is hotter than the strand.

15. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 14, wherein the strand temperature is above the ambient temperature. 

2. Strand treatment according to claim 1, wherein the countercurrent flow of fluid terminates before reaching the compact strand accumulation.
 3. Strand treatment according to claim 2, wherein the fluid flows radially outward away from the strand at the end of its path along the strand.
 4. Strand treatment according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow also forces the strand being withdrawn into sliding contact with a solid surface, thereby further aiding in slub removal.
 5. Aftertreatment for textile strand stuffer-crimped in a laterally confining region having an entrance and an exit for the strand, comprising applying a countercurrent flow of gaseous fluid to the strand while in the region and being withdrawn longitudinally from a compact accumulation of strand in the region, including providing such fluid to the chamber at a locus remote from the strand accumulation and in the vicinity of the strand exit from the chamber, and exhausting such fluid from the chamber at a locus nearer to the strand accumulation.
 6. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid flow extends along part of the interior of the laterally confining region.
 7. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 6, wherein the fluid flow extends along portions of the strand path inside and outside the laterally confining region.
 8. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 7, wherein the fluid flow enters the exit of the laterally confining region through which the strand is withdrawn.
 9. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 6, wherein the fluid flow is limited to an interior portion of the laterally confining region spaced from the exit thereof through which the strand is withdrawn.
 10. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is drier than the strand.
 11. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is moister than the strand.
 12. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises steam.
 13. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is cooler than the strand.
 14. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is hotter than the strand.
 15. Strand aftertreatment according to claim 14, wherein the strand temperature is above the ambient temperature. 